[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[January 14, 1994]
[Pages 49-50]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Exchange With Reporters on Signing the Denuclearization Agreement With
Russia and Ukraine in Moscow
January 14, 1994
Q. What will be the impact of this agreement on the national
security of Russia?
President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. We have never believed and we
have never perceived that there is any kind of danger coming our way
from Ukraine. Nevertheless, in terms of world politics, today is an
historic day where the three Presidents have signed an agreement that
would eliminate nuclear arms from the territory of Ukraine and whereby
Ukraine will be acceding the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons. This will be another important step towards getting rid of
nuclear weapons throughout the world.
Q. There is an opinion that if the Ukraine gets rid of its nuclear
weapons it will lose its authority, so to speak, among other nations.
What is your opinion on this, Mr. President?
President Clinton. Well, of course, in the end this is a question
that Ukraine has to answer for itself, but I can only tell you what my
opinion is. My opinion is that Ukraine will increase its authority among
nations for doing this. After all, Ukraine has enhanced the security of
the
[[Page 50]]
United States today by agreeing to remove 1,500 nuclear warheads aimed
at our Nation. Ukraine has enhanced the security of Ukraine and Russia
by agreeing to dismantle these warheads, which means that there is less
chance of nuclear accident, nuclear espionage, nuclear terrorism.
And more important, Ukraine has shown an understanding that as we
move into the next century, the greatness of nations will be defined by
their ability to work with each other and to develop the capacities of
their people. And I think you will now see people all over the world
more interested in working with Ukraine in partnership because of this
very brave and visionary act. So I believe that Ukraine is a stronger
nation today for having done this. And I think almost everyone else in
the world will believe the same thing.
Q. President Clinton, we've been told by one of your aides that the
timetable for this agreement is going to remain secret. Is that in fact
the case? Are you going to at least tell us when dismantlement of the
first nuclear warhead in Ukraine will take place?
President Clinton. We have reached an agreement on which details
will be made public and which will not, and today all the things that
can be made public will be made public. We've been working so hard on
this, I want to be very careful about it.
Let me tell you that I am completely comfortable with the agreements
that we have made and with the understandings between both Russia and
Ukraine about how it will be handled. I think it's a very good thing for
the world and a very good thing for the United States.
Q. What does Ukraine receive from giving the warheads and missiles
deployed in its territory?
President Leonid Kravchuk of Ukraine. From the political point of
view, we get a greater security for having signed the documents with the
Presidents. Both Presidents and the countries confirm this higher change
of security. And the second point, the Ukraine confirms its policy which
was proclaimed earlier, thus indicating the continual character of its
policy. And the third, Ukraine receives compensation for nuclear
weapons. And the fourth, Ukraine enters into normal relations with other
states, and this is the primary thing for great security. I say it like
that: if Ukraine is in friendly relations, further ties with Russia and
the United States, it will be secure.
Note: The exchange began at 8:55 a.m. in St. Catherine Hall at the
Kremlin. President Yeltsin and President Kravchuk spoke in their native
languages, and their remarks were translated by an interpreter. A tape
was not available for verification of the content of this exchange.